Awareness of the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery among health care professionals in Pondicherry, India.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to establish the level of knowledge among dental, medical, and paramedical professionals of the hospital, regarding the role of oral and maxillofacial surgery in health care. This study also aims to highlight the perception of the medical professionals and what they think an oral and maxillofacial surgeon does.


METHODS
A survey was done at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical and Research Institute, Pondicherry, India, in 2006.


RESULTS
The result showed that out of 100, only 41% of the medical students, 76% of the medical practitioners, and 58% of the paramedical workers have heard of the name of the specialty.


CONCLUSIONS
While the dental professionals realize the scope of the specialty to a larger extent, medical professionals are not fully aware of the expertise the specialty has to offer.
Subhashraj
Krishnaraj
K
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India. rajsubhash@rediffmail.com
Subramaniam
Balanand
B
D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D013515:Surgery, Oral; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires